While the snakebite patient eventually succumbed, the woman who tried to extract the venom through her mouth became critical later and had to be hospitalised.
Keonjhar: In a bizarre incident that has gone viral, a woman from Hatadihi block in Odisha’s Keonjhar district became critical after she reportedly claimed to be possessed by a goddess and attempted to suck venom from a female snakebite patient on Sunday.
While the snakebite patient eventually succumbed, the woman who tried to extract the venom through her mouth became critical later and had to be hospitalised.
As per reports, Jhunurani Behera (40) of Jhanjana village within Soso police limits of the block, had gone to the agriculture field on Sunday when she was bit by a venomous snake. When she came home and narrated the incident to her family members, they, instead of taking her to a hospital, sought help from one Minati Dehury of the same village who claimed to have divine healing powers as she was possessed by a goddess.
Assuring to cure Jhunurani, Minati then sucked blood from the area of snakebite but nothing happened. As Jhunurani’s condition kept deteriorating, she was then rushed to Anandpur sub-divisional hospital where she later succumbed.
Later, Minati fell ill and became unconscious after which she too was rushed to the hospital. Family sources said she was possessed by goddess Mangala who left her body after she tried sucking venom.
